THETFORD TOWNSHIP, MI -- It was never a real problem whenever John and Ethel Culver heard the noise from nine small electricity generators near their home on a rural stretch of Genesee Road.

Those nine units are owned by Consumers Energy, which has mothballed
them and is in the proposing a new 700-megawatt natural gas-fired power
plant be built on that site.

"It didn't really disturb us," said John Culver, standing in Thetford Township Hall with his wife.

"Sometimes, we could hear it when the doors and windows were shut. It was loud enough that we could hear it inside the house. It didn't run on a regular basis and it wasn't continual."

The power plant was announced at a press conference held Friday morning, Dec. 14, at the township hall, where elected leaders and officials from the utility provider celebrated a $750 million investment into the community.

Township Supervisor Eileen Kerr has called the plant a blessing, bringing 600 construction jobs once Consumers Energy obtains the proper permits and certificates, as well as adequate funding.

The plant will also employ 30 permanent positions once it's up and running in 2017.

The construction and operation of the plant will be a noticeable change for the few people living in the area, like the Culvers.

"We're just right straight across from the mile where the plant is going to be built, and we don't know if there is going to be any noise involved with it," John Culver said. "I guess that is my main question."

The technology used at the plant and the design of the facility will address noise concerns, Consumers Energy spokesman Jeffrey Holyfield said.

"We understand the concern about that and we'll be taking steps to address that," he said. "We're going to be a good corporate neighbor. We're not going to impose something on our neighbors that is not desirable."

Aside from concerns about the noise, Culver said the plan does seem to be a great benefit to their community.

"Overall, I think it's a good thing, it's certainly good for the economy and good for the township," he said.